Airship.



HPBBM U1 immuun A. MAYBE.

AIRSHIP.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 20, 1911.

Patented June 25,1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

n ian Maj/er, l

A. MAYBE.

AIRSHIP.

A PPLIOATION FILED D110. 20, 1911.

1,030,826. Patented June 25, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

coLUMBIA PLANUGRAFH co,.w^smNa1-oN.\D. c.

^ A.` MAYER.

AIRSHIP.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. zo, 1911.

1,030,826. r Ptented June 25, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..wAsH|NaToN. 0.1:.

A. MAYER.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 20, 1911.

' Patented June 25, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH C0.,\vAsMxN0-PON. D. c.

A. MAYER.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.20, 1911.

Patented June 25, 1912,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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n/enor' im? /Wayer ANTON MAYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.AIRSHIR Specification of Letters Patent.

1,030,826. Patented June 25, 1912.

bei Lawa-v" To all who/m it may concern.' 6, 6' are tandem biplanespivoted to longi- Be it known that I, ANTON MAYER, a citi tudinal portions 1. The portions 1 of the Zen of Bavaria, residing at Chicago, in the framework extend longitudinally of the aircounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have ship, being substantially parallel and pref- 60 invented a certain new and useful Improveerably close to the longitudinal sides of the ment in Airships, of which the following is plane There are four pairs of these tana full, clear, concise, and exact description, dem biplanes, pivoted along their inner reference being had to the accompanying edges lengthwise of the airship, their inner drawings, forming part of this application. edges being substantially in line with the 65 My invention relates to the class of airouter edges of the fixed plane 5. These biships commonly known as biplanes. planes extend respectively forward and It consists of a novel arrangement of the rearward of the fixed plane 5, their inner planes for obtaining increased stability; corners being adjacent to the corners of also of a novel arrangement for simultaneplane 5. 70 ously tilting some of these planes, so as to 7 is a rope fastened to the upper plane. safeguard the airship against overturning, of the tandem biplane 6, this being in case of squalls or of accidents necessipreferably forked as at 7. Rope 7 leads tating a sudden descent. over a pulley 8, preferably fastened to an In its preferred embodiment, my invenupright post 9, and down along the post 9, 75 tion is shown in the accompanying drawover another pulley 10 to one end of a chain ings forming part of this specification, in 11. The chain 11, which is preferably a so- Whigh called link belt chain, passes part way Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side around the cog wheel 12, the links of the elevation, Fig. 3 is an end elevation, Fig. -ZL chain intermeshing with the teeth of the 80 is an enlarged view of the shaft, cog and cog wheel. Cog wheel 12 is fastened rigidly chain arrangement for operating the tilting to a shaft 13, which the operator can turn planes. Fig. 5 shows an alternative arby means of a hand wheel la. The other rangement of the springs for returning the end of the chain 11 is fastened to a return tilting planes to their normal position. Fig. rope 15 leading over a pulley 16 to the lower 85 6 shows an alternative spring arrangement plane (3 of the biplane 6.

in which the springs are fastened to the tilt- 16 is a link connecting planes G and 6 at ing members and to the framework of the the points where the ropes 7 and 15 are fas` airship. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view tened to the planes. rIhe link 16 in conshowing the steering arrangement. Fig. S nection with the ropes 7 and 15 and chain 90 is a diagrammatic view showing the ar- 11 thus forms an endless flexible member rangement of the means for controlling the engaging the cog wheel at 12 in one directilting of the four safety bi-planes pivoted tion and fastened to the biplane 6, so that to the sides of theI frame. Fig. 9 is a diarotating this cog wheel in one direction will grammatic view of the control for the staraise the side edges of the biplanes and 95 bilizing planes at the front and rear of the will thereby tilt the biplane 6 to which the airship. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view ropes 7 and 15 are fastened. Rotating the of the control of the elevating and lowering cog wheel in the opposite direction will replanes at the front and rear of the airship. turn the biplane G to its normal position sub- Like reference characters are used to desstantially parallel with the plane of the 100 ignate like elements in each of the drawcentral plane 5. Each of the biplanes G is ings, but in some of the drawings portions similarly controlled and the wheel 12 has of the iiexible controlling members and a separate series of cog wheels, as 12a, 12b, other details have been omitted to avoid 12, for each controllino` cord 7. confusion. 17 and 17a are stabilizing planes pivoted 105 In the drawings, 1 is the framework of at the front and rear of the framework on an airship, supporting engines 2, 2 and axes crosswise of the lat-ter. shafts 3, 3, the latter carrying propellers 18 is a rope leading upward from the 4, 4, front stabilizing plane 17 over pulleys 19 5 is a substantially rectangular plane apand 19a to one end of a chain 20 which in- 110 proximately over the center of the frametermeshes with a cog 21, this cog wheel bework. ing also fastened rigidly to the shaft 13.

Application led December 20', 1911.

Serial No. 666,927.

The other end of the chain 2O is fastened to a rope 21n leading over a pulley 22 to the under side of the stabilizing plane 17. Similarly a cog wheel 211, also fastened to 5 the shaft 13, meshes into a chain 20a connected at its opposite ends to ropes 21C and 21, leading respectively to the upper and lower sides of the rear stabilizing plane 17a. 23 and 23ZL are elevating and depressing planes pivoted respectively to the frontand rear of the framework and connected by upward ropes 24 and 24a and downward ropes 25 and 25a to chains 26 and 27 intermeshing with cog wheels 28 and 29 on a shaft 49 passing through the hollow shaft 13 to another hand wheel 30. The planes 23 and 23 are pivoted on axes extending crosswise of the airship, their axes corresponding substantially with the front and rear edges of the plane 5. 31 and 32 are front and rear rudders pivoted to the framework on vertical axes and connected by ropes 33 and 34 to a steering pedal 35, preferably placed close to the hollow shaft 13, so that the operator can do the steering with his feet.

36, 36 are chains leading from the engines Q, 2 to the propeller shafts 3, 3.

37, 37 are stirrups rigidly fastened to the lower portion of the frame 1, and supporting parallel tubes 38, 38. These tubes have closed ends and are preferably made of aluminum and are filled with air, so asto serve as floats for the airship in case it should descend upon water.

39 and 39a are legs connecting a wheel 40 with the stirrup and the framework, there being preferably a spring 41 in one of these legs to cushion the effect of having the wheel strike the ground suddenly.

42, 42 are bumpers or stops against which the tilting biplanes will strike when tilted to the extreme advisable angle. These bumpers are preferably made of metal bars se cured to the upright posts of the framework,

45 such as the post 9, it being the function of these bumpers to keep the oppositely disposed tilting biplanes from striking against each other in case they are too suddenly tilted from their normal position by the upward pressure of air when the downwardly leading controlling ropes are released.

In operating the device of my invention, the four auxiliary biplanes 6, 6 and the auxiliary stabilizing planes 17 and 17ZL are normally in substantially the same plane as the central plane 5, being locked in this position by a latch 43,which normally locks the shaft 13 against rotation and which, therefore, prevents motion of the endless flexible members composed of the chains with the ropes and links fastened to the same. In case of a sudden Squall or of an accident (such as exhausting the supply of gasolene while the aviator is high in the air) demanding a rapid descent, the operator releases the catch 43, thereby allowing the upward air pressure to tilt or rock the four auxiliary side planes 6 and the two end stabilizing planes 17 at a considerable angle with the central plane 5. When thus tilted, these auxiliary side, front and rear planes, together with the central plane, constitute a formation akin to the surface of an inverted umbrella, which formation will not readily be overturned by swaying or by sudden gusts of wind. Then the operator has thus allowed the safety planes to tilt to the angular position and has descended from a region of tricky winds to one in which a safe air current is iiowing, he can restore the tilting planes to their normal position by turning the hand wheel 14, so

as to rotate the cog 12 in the direction opposite to that in which it turned while the planes were being tilted. Owing to the re- 55 sistance of the air, this returning of the tilted planes to their normal position might require more than one mans strength. I therefore provide strong springs attached to the shaft 13, tending to keep this in the position in which the tiltable planes are substantially parallel to the central planes 5. For this purpose, I preferably use tension springs 44 fastened at one end by hooks 46 to the framework of the airship and at 95 the other end to a cross-bar 45, which crossbar is fastened rigidly to the shaft 13 as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows an alternative spring arrangement in which springs 48 are fastened at one end to the framework and at the other end to the tilting planes, which springs 48 are extended when the biplanes are tilted and therefore tend to return these planes from their safety positions to their normal positions.

`While I have referred to the supporting vanes of the airship as planes, it will be understood by those familiar with the practice of aviation that they are not necessarily plane surfaces, being preferably slightly arched as in Fig. 2, and that in speaking of certain planes as substantially parallel in their normal position, I am referring to the plane which these would occupy if the curvatures were iattened out.

While I have thus shown and described my invention in its preferred embodiment, I do not wish to be limited to the exact form as pictured and described, as obvious modifications could be made in the same without 120 departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is 1. In an airship, a propelling mechanism;

a framework supporting the same; a sub- 125 stantially rectangular monoplane rigidly secured to the said framework approximately over the center of the same; biplanes fastened to the said framework adjacent to the four corners of the said monoplane, the said 13G iv. sa

biplanes being normally parallel to the upward air pressure may simultaneously plane of the said monoplane; manual mea-ns tilt the pivoted planes to a safety position; 55 by which the operator can tilt the said biand mechanism actuated by the operator planes and by which he can return the tilted for simultaneously returning the tilted 5 biplanes to a plane parallel to that of the planes to their normal positions.

inonoplane; and spring mechanism for aid- 5. An airship including a propelling ing the operator in returning the tilted bimechanism; a framework supporting the 60 planes to a plane parallel to that of the same; a substantially rectangular monomonoplane. plane rigidly secured to the framework l0 2. An airship including a propelling approximately over the center of the same; mechanism; a framework supporting the auxiliary planes pivoted to the sides and same, a substantially rectangular monoplane ends of the framework, the said auxiliary 65 rigidly secured to the framework approxiplanes being normally held substantially mately over the center of the same; tandem parallel to the plane of the monoplane; a

biplanes piVoted to the said framework adlatching mechanism for simultaneously rejacent to the four corners of the said monoleasing the said pivoted planes, whereby the plane, the said biplanes being normally subupward air pressure may;v simultaneously 7 0 stantially parallel to the plane of the said tilt the pivoted planes to a safety position; monoplane; and a controlling mechanism mechanism actuated by the operator for sifor holding the said biplanes in this normal multaneously returning the tilted planes to position, the controlling mechanism being their normal positions; and springs for aidadapted to release the biplanes simultaneing the operator in actuating the said mech- 75 ously, whereby the upward air pressure may anism. tilt the biplanes simultaneously to a safety 6. An airship including a framework position. substantially rectangular in outline; a plu- 3. An airship including a propelling rality of planes pivoted to the sides and mechanism; a framework supporting the ends of the framework; a latch normally 80 same; a substantially rectangular nio-noholding the pivoted planes parallel to one plane rigidly secured to the framework apanother; stops for limiting the extent to proxiinately over the center of the same; which the upward air pressure may tilt the auxiliary planes pivoted to the sides and pivoted planes when the latch is released; ends of the framework, the said auxiliary and mechanism actuated by the operator 85 planes being normally held substantially for simultaneously returning the planes to parallel to the plane of the monopla-ne; a their normal position after they have thus latching mechanism for simultaneously rebeen tilted by the upward air pressure.

leasing the said pivoted planes, whereby the 7. An airship including a framework upward air pressure may simultaneously substantially rect-angular in outline; a plu- 90 tilt the pivoted planes to a safety position; rality of planes pivoted to the sides and and stops for limiting the extent to which ends 0f the framework; a latch normally the pivoted planes may be tilted by the upholding the pivoted planes parallel to one ward air pressure when the latching mechanother; stops for limiting the extent .to anisin is released. which the upward air pressure may tilt 95 4. An airship including a propelling the pivoted planes when the latch is remechanism; a framework supporting the leased; mechanism actuated by the oper- Same; a Substantially retallgulal mODO- ator for simultaneously returning the planes plane rigidly secured to the framework apto their normal position after they have proximately over the center of the same; thug been tilted by the upward air pres- 100 auxiliary planes pivoted to the sides and sure; and springs for aiding the operator ends of the framework, the said auxiliary in actuating the said mechanism.

planes being normally held. substantially ANTON MAYER.

parallel to the plane of the monoplane; a Witnesses: latching mechanism for simultaneously re- AMY M. SNAP?, leasing the said pivoted planes, whereby the AUGUST VINTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C. 

